Lawmaker Urges AI Agent Consumer Protection Amid U.S. Economic Spread of AI

Sen. Mark Warner is pushing a groundbreaking bill aimed at regulating AI agents across the U.S. economy.

The Artificial Intelligence Access, Gatekeeper Exchange and Nondiscriminatory Transfer, or AI Agent Act, proposes privacy and security measures to protect consumers and businesses from potential risks associated with using AI.

Warner emphasized that as agentic AI transforms how Americans interact with technology, consumers deserve a real choice in the marketplace. He stated that this discussion draft is a major step toward building a clear federal framework that promotes innovation, protects consumers, and ensures the U.S. continues to lead the world in emerging technology.

The bill would establish rights and responsibilities for AI agents accessing large online platforms while ensuring they act in a user’s best interest. It also proposes creating a Federal Trade Commission registry of trusted AI agents to prevent unauthorized bots from compromising users’ personal information.

An AI agent with access to sensitive data, such as email or credit card details, must behave in a fiduciary-like manner to protect users, according to the draft summary. The measure would require AI agents to safeguard privacy and any collected data while acting in the user’s best interest and preventing businesses from being exploited by unauthorized AI.

Warner is releasing the draft bill for feedback from stakeholders and the public before formally introducing it. With AI-powered shopping assistants projected to account for up to $385 billion of U.S. e-commerce sales by 2030, according to Morgan Stanley, this legislation could have significant implications for the future of consumer protection in the digital economy.